AT TYER'S SWAMP

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 129, 4 June 1927, Page 10

AT TYER'S SWAMP

FLAX-FARMING TEST

CULTIVATION ERA HAS

COME

PLANTERS BUSY NEAR THE

BLACK CREEK

A sign of the new era of flaxcultivation, as distinat from flaxeutting, is a planting\ scheme in the district known as Tyer's Swamp, where, it is reported, over thirty acres have been planted this, fall in' phormium tenax.

Tyer's Swamp is 'on the "Black Greek" branch of the, Mungaroa tributary of the Hutt. The Mungaroa is, over most of its length, the most evenly graded of the Hutt tributaries. The width and even grade of its valley have made it j better farming proposition than the Whakatiki, the two Akatarawas, or even the Pakuratahi. For that reason, the wide.river flats of the lower Mungaroa, and the undulating lands in its upper reaches, have been extensively grassed, and .the stream does not figure, as the others do, in the ■ water conservation list. Settlement has elimihated.it from among the possible sources of a drinking supply, though its height above the nearby valley of its parent river (the Hutt) as demonstrated by the railway tunnel has given rise to. the suggestion that a tunnel deviation at a favourable point would permit, of a considerable generation of power at a power-house sited on the Upper Hutt side. This h.e. proposition has not gone beyond the report stage.

DRAINING A SWAMP.

While dairy farming has gone ahead in the main valley -of the Mungaroa, the Black Creek branch has halted, because the evenness of grade already noted amounts in this area to almost a dead level of swamp. Such, at* any rate,it seemed to be when its drainage . was first undertaken many years ago. Much money and perseverance have improved the outflow of the Black Greek, though it still remains a slow-moving ditch of chocolate water, appreciably tinging the Mungaroa at the 'point of their confluence; and giving it is "peaty" reputation. Gradually the grazing , capacity, of the swamp, which measures more than a mile each way, and of the surrounding hills, has been improved. And now comes flax-cultivation as an attempt to turn the drained area to greater profit. J'lax has always been a native of the' swamp and of, its margin lands, and a decade ago no one would have thought of harvesting flax except where. the ■ flax itself, chose to grow; .but this is the era of flax-cultivation, and as a good deal of money is being invested in various, parts of New Zealand in that form of treatment of phorium tenax, it is just as well that the Hutt Valley should have a stake in the great i adventure. The profitable utilisation of areas like Tyer's Swamp means an appreciable addition to community wealth, as well as to private pockets. .

, In a general view of the new flax cultivation, "H.A.S." writes in the '.'Auckland Weekly News":—

\ AFTER SIXTY YEAHS,

"For sixty years flaxmilling has been an industry, but only within the last two years has any improvement been made to cultivate the raw material—that is. to engage in flax-farm-ing. . .

"If one wishes to enter into sheep farming, he knows ' fairly ..well what breed of sheep to carry on his particular farm and vrhat class and number per acre. But to engage in flax farming is, ns yet, largely an adventure into the unknown. Enough is,, known, however, to entico one to take up planting, for on general reasoning the prospects seem excellent. The ionly bogy is that of over-production, should too many plantations be Successfully established. At present this need not be deeply considered, as we have yet to roach the stago of successful establishment of even one largo;area. "So far are wo from' definite knowledge that not a single principle has been thoroughly established. Kcviewing our flax planting ideas we find tremendous variations upon all phases. Let us now review the principal consideration concerning flax growing and see how little is known.

WHERE TO PLANT,

''Practically tho whole of the flax milled to-day comes from swamps or along water courses. This has led to a belief that flax likes wet .conditions. But that is' not really so; the rensou that flax grew in swampy land was because taller growths did not there crush it but. Flax is a very hardy plant that can grow almost anywhere. Because it can grow under, arduous conditions is no criterion that it prefers them. Generally a prospective planter wishes to know if his own land or some property in his district would be suitable for flax. Most of tho planting proposed to be done in the immediate future is upon third and fourth class land. The obvious intention i s to keep down the capital cost per acre. It has yet to be proved, however, that this is the most profitable policy. One can buy fourth-class land at say, £10 per acre, or good second-class at £.40. The extra £30 per acre will mean an annual surcharge of £2 2s, .assuming 7 per cent, interest; add extra rates , and taxes, amounting to probably 4s per acre, the extra cost will be £2 Cs per acre per annum. The cost of establishing a plantation would be about the. same in each case. Assuming the fourth-class land produced 14 tons per acre per annum side-leaf and that value was 30s per ton delivered to mill, this gives a turnover of £21 per •annum per acre. If the dearer land produced a 20 per cent, heavier crop then it would be more profitable. That it will do so is probable, but not proved. Further, it is yet to be proved that such extra profit if gained, will compensate for the greater liability of dear land. Rich land, poor land? Wet or dry land? Peat, clay, or sand? Where shall we plant?

WHAT TO PLANT, AND HOW.

There arc two means of propagating flax—either by seedlings or by division and replanting of grown roots. At present the majority propose to do so with root stock, not seedlings. Undoubtedly roots will grow a cuttable crop more rapidly and require less attention to t'ueir cultivation. But if any real improvement is to bo made in the quality^ of our flax it must come by the growing of seedlings from seed of the best varieties. Many years of careful selection 1 are needed to grow a really superior flax. Good grade of fibre is only one of several necessary qualities. Equally important are percentage of fibre, growth of the flax, and its power to , resist diseases. , Then, too, certain varieties may be found most suitable for each type of soil. What is best to plant we do not know. But what is good to plant, our commonsense will fairly well tell us for the present. .

( Many prospective planters intend putting good roots into uncultivated swamps and sand-dune country, believing that their property is so suitable^ for flax that cultivation is unnecessary. Others . are going' to plough and work their soil as if for a crop of mangolds; and to lime it and top-dress with artificial fertilisers, then, after planting, to cultivate the soil as one does with mangolds.

There.jou haje-|tc£- JK>^wg=§B--jria§,

apart as the Poles. One economical the other costly. If plantations can be successfully established upon the economical lines proposed by some then enormous profits should be made. On the other hand, such methods may prove a complete failure. Cultivation is less of a gamble. Judging by other crops grown throughout the world, one would prophesy that highly-cultivated flax will eventually be the r,ule.